Yellow-gold color, slightly hazy, with a small, fizzy, white head that sank to a thin layer; very little lacing. Light citrus zest in the nose, delicate brett notes, fresh-cut grass, even some white grapes. Crisp taste of grass, light bretty funk, very mild tartness, quite floral, with a crescendo of clementine zest and creamsicle coming in about mid-palate, giving a slightly sweet finish. Nice! Some people didn't get any orange out of this, but I thought it was pretty obvious in the taste from mid-palate onward. Light-medium body, crisp and delicate mouthfeel, extremely drinkable. Another one I almost regret sharing, because I really wanted more time to let the full complexity sink in (aka I wanted the whole bottle for myself!). Oh well, what's done is done, and I'm glad more people could get to try it! (874 characters)

Thanks to Jeff for this bottle. Bottled 07/2013. Poured in to HF stemmed tulip.

A - Translucent bright yellow colour with a very thin layer of cream coloured head.

S - Funk and oak up front with a bready malt profile. Not getting any of the mandarin at all in the nose.

T - Tart with a nice funk presence at first that give way to a bready malt sweetness and some yeast esters. A hint of mandarin orange flavour and a touch of bitterness in the finish that is not nearly as prevalent as I had hoped or expected. Still a solid oak aged saison.

A- Pours a very pale straw/pear yellow that is perfectly translucent. A finger of white head recedes quickly to a collar. Lots of lively carbonation is visible.

S- The aroma is delicate, oaky, funky, floral, with some bright citrus. Definitely a lot of wine characteristics, with vinous notes, and hints of grape skins.

T- The flavor is really delightful! The wine barrel flavors take the forefront, with a nice tart middle, and a very dry finish. There's only a touch of mandarin, but it adds to the complexities so well. The vinous and grape skin notes from the aroma are all there, and the oak tannins make you want to explore more with every sip!

M- The mouthfeel was quite over-carbed to start, with effervescent bubbles exploding all over the palate, but after it sat a while it calmed down enough to be pleasant. A bit thick considering the style, but it works. Very dry.

O- Overall this was a very intriguing wine-barrel-aged saison that almost drank more like a wild ale. Despite some minor flaws it tasted fantastic, and I must get my hands on another bottle! (1,073 characters)

M - Mouthfeel is very nice for the style, nice carbonation, crisp and tart.

O - Overall I was actually somewhat disappointed by this beer, in a sense that I dint get nearly as much orange as I would like. Even with those gripes though it is a delicious saison. Tasty. (649 characters)

Pour is a transparent pale yellow with a thin white head. Nose has a faint farmhouse note to it with a balance of wheat malt. Light oak and some white grape/tannic notes, a bit of lemon, some lacto, and a touch of citric acid. Taste is fairly subtle, nothing overpowering. I thought the citric acid would provide a light burn but it does not. Mostly white grape with hints of tannins. The citrus flavors don't add much, the farmhouse notes have mostly vanished, the lemon comes out stronger as does the lacto. Palate is quite soft with a nice level of carbonation and a dry and fairly sour finish. (597 characters)

375ml bottle from the recent September 2013 release, shared 3 ways with the wifey and Doug, poured into a Founders snifter today, 10/22/2013. Thanks a lot to Respirologist for being generous enough to trade me a bottle.

Pours a beautiful clear yellow-straw body, with great fizzly carbonation. It comes with a 1cm white head that fades into a beautiful, thick collar. Its honestly one of the prettiest beers I've ever seen. Leaves some lacing, looks like straight up carbonated lemonade.

Smells so funky with a faint hint of orange zest, which I assume is the mandarin oranges.. perhaps these oranges have started rotting. Its already very subtle, which is why I'm glad I opened this up sooner rather than later. There's a crisp maltiness, perhaps attributable to the wheat aspect, and a little bit of oak. In some ways it reminds me more of an American wild than an saison. Yet, it is so clean and crisp that tells me this is a saison.

Such a nice crisp complex funkiness on the tongue. It's simultaneously leathery, funky and oakey while bringing sweet citrus that complements the funk very well. It's a saison for the ages, yet I wonder if there is an American Wild component. Given that this is a coolship beer, I'm not surprised. This beer comes with a nice subtle acidity that complements the funk and the zest very well.

Mouthfeel is typical Hill Farmstead- well-carbonated and creamier than a typical saison. Aftertaste is mostly a nice orange zest with a touch of funk. Really fantastic here.

Not going to lie, this is the best saison I've ever had and probably will ever have. Its a nice crossover between a wild ale and a saison, yet it brings a nice balanced funk with the satsuma mandarin oranges. Highly recommend, though I wouldn't quite give up a Fou' Foune for it unless I was a huge saison fan. (1,817 characters)

S: Orange, lemon and a hint of oak. Light white wine character. Wheat malt with a hint of funk on the back end.

T: Lots of citrus character. Lemon and orange again dominate. A hint more sweetness than regular Flora. Very nicely tart. Small amount of barnyard character. As it warms, the wine barrel becomes apparent. Grape skin, a gentle oak character and this depth of flavor emerge. Lightly floral on the back end. Delightful. Very Gueuze-like.

M: Effervescent with an excellent body for such a low abv beer. Perfectly suited to the style and the flavors. The dryness of each sip leaves you wanting another.

O: Phenomenal. I'd be hard pressed to choose if I like this or standard Flora better, but both are just outstanding. I only wish I had more.

Reviewing the Flora Satsuma Mandarin, a barrel aged saison aged on Satsuma mandarins from the Hill Farmstead Brewery out of Greensboro, Vermont.

Score: 94

2013 vintage bottle served in a stemmed Hill Farmstead bulb glass and enjoyed on 02/22/14.

Appearance: Pours a transparent/clean golden mead color. Not effervescent in appearance at all. Pours a ring around the glass of white head off the pour. 4/5

Smell: Mandarin oranges, mineral water, white wine, and a touch of spice. Wheat and citrus too. Smells a lot like a slightly funky/earthy white wine mixed with sweet oranges and peppercorn. The wine character grows in prominences as the beer warms and breathes. 4.5/5

Taste: Sweet citrus and orange with a little wheat grain. There is a very mild, crisp tartness upfront. Tannic, white wine towards the finish with a kiss of oak and grape. Nice, tasty mix. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light-plus bodied, and surprisingly spritzy carbonation that is appropriate for the flavor profile. Very dry finish, with a nice sweetness. 4.5/5

Overall: Superior to Blueberry Flora, and a nice orange-forward, not too funky saison.

My 1000 review. I couldn't find a more worthy brew than a version of one of my highest rated beers. 375ml bottle into Hill Farmstead stemware. Shared with schen9303.

Pours a thin wisp of a white head that dissipates quickly. Beer is a clear pale yellow. Lacing is spotty and minimal. Pretty average.

Nose is citrus, lemon and a prominent sweet mandarin. Light yeast, spice, and a soft woodiness linger in the background. Subtle but very solid.

Opens sweet and sour orange. Very fresh and zesty. Citrus, lemon zest and fresh mandarin sweetness in the middle. Fruit is subtle but prominent at the same time. Tart and dry hay with a subtle yeasty backdrop. Dry in the end with hints of oak, spice, and yeast. Tart and puckering aftertaste. Perfection in a glass.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. Prickly and lively in the mouth and puckering and dry going down. Bone dry finish with a filmy, lingering aftertaste. Outstanding.

Is this better than Flora? I can't tell without having them side-by-side. Suffice to say though, my mind is blown by how good this is. Drink it fresh people. That subtle mandarin fruit flavor isn't going to last forever. But while its there, this is one of the best beers of the year. (1,218 characters)

A- Pours a crystal clear golden, one of the clearest beers I've seen and has a nice golden glow to it. A thin layer of white head forms when pouring that quickly recedes to a flat top and just a ring around the edges, nice medium level carbonation with an awesome consistency.

S- Tart white grapes, chardonnay, balanced mandarins, subtle orange peel, wheat backbase, and a bit of oak. Flora part shows all the characteristics of a nice wine barrel-aged saison and the mandarin adds a subtle aroma that fits very nicely with the base beer. Nice aroma strength with nice complexities.

T- Wine hits you off the bat with a very nice dry, tart white chardonnay grape flavor. The tartness is perfectly done and is mixed with a little bit of barnyard funk and orange peel from the mandarins. The wheat backbone fits very nicely with the dry wine tartness. On the finish the mandarins come out more with a nice orange peel zest that comes out and lingers on the palate along with some oak. Overall complex and tasty.

O- Flora Satsuma is a well crafted wine-barrel aged saison with fruit added. Every aspect of the beer adds another nuanced complexity. Flora is one of my favorite barrel-aged saisons and while I wouldn't say the addition of mandarins makes it that much better of a beer but it definitely adds a nice presence that balances nicely with the base. (1,539 characters)

Poured into the HF tulip. Pours a bright gold/yellow, slightly hazy. No head and no other bubbles either. A small amount of lacing on the side, though. The aroma is very nice. Citrus, lemon sticks out. A nice amount of sour funk in there. Nice amount of tart lemon and orange peel right up front. Also, very sour for the aftertaste, like biting into a sour citrus rind. Some nice flavor from the wine barrels make themselves known. A slight amount of carbonation. I'm a week removed from having flora with blueberries. I can see the similarities, but can also realize blueberries make this a better beer. This is also older, so probably not as juicy as it once was. The satsuma adds a nice mellow touch of citrus and then rounds it out on the end with a sour bite. Very nicely balanced, although i would like to taste some more of the oranges. I know, should have traded for it months ago, maybe fresh the orange flavor is more prominent. Maybe I'll go check out some past reviews while I finish the bottle. Still, a very nice beer. Super happy with the trade even if it is a notch below blueberry flora for me. (1,111 characters)

Taste: Acidic and tart tangerine and lemon up front, and that mellows out seamlessly into white wine and smooth oak. Beautiful funk midpalate. Some citrus zest. Through the finish, lightly acidic and tart tangerines, lingering white wine, and drying oak.

Mouthfeel: Perfectly carbed. The mandarins added a lovely acidity to play off of Flora’s typical tartness. Refreshing, and supremely drinkable. Flavors linger long enough that this is able to be savored for quite a while.

Overall: What can I say… I thought Flora was near perfection, and this bettered it. Well done Shaun, this is a work of brewing art. (956 characters)

Appearance: Cloudy and golden, no head to speak of, but a thin white crown around the edge.

Smell: Lots of funk, tartness. No orange to speak of here though. I love how this smells, really its exactly what I'm looking for in a sour.

Taste: Light, not overpowering vinegar tartness. A hint of bitterness, lots of wonderful funk. The mandarin isn't immediately noticeable, but comes through beautifully on the finish. I'm only getting a slight vinous character from the wine barrel.

Mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation, really prickly, which works very well with this style. It lingers quite a bit too.

Overall: So happy to finally try this beer, it's been on my wants list for a while. It doesn't disappoint. Hill Farmstead really knows what they're doing. Seek out this beer for sure. (938 characters)

375ml bottle 5.0% Abv. Served chilled in a wine glass.Bottled: July 2013

A ridiculously massive thanks to my new beer buddy jefeld For hauling this all the way to a safari camp in South Africa for me to taste!

Appearance: The beer pours a moderately cloudy pale yellow and is topped by a small white head. The head retention was average and I didn’t notice much in the way of lacing.

Smell: The initial nose offers a light tartness alongside notes of white wine and a fair amount of wheat. After a short while the nose begins to open up with lemon zest, a little sweeter citrus (smells like orange to me, but I am guessing it is the Satsuma Mandarin), a faint woodiness and a lovely floral character.

Taste: Just delicious! Tart white wine combines fantastically with loads of wheat and a little lemon peel. There is a touch of brett, some dry grass, a light floral note and a little oak also noted. The finish is lightly dry and just keeps you reaching for the glass.

Mouthfeel: The body is just a bit heftier than light and there is a medium-high level of fine spritzy carbonation.

Overall: Fantastic! Flora Satsuma Mandarin isn’t the most complex wild ale around and I wonder how different it is from the original Flora, but when it is this delicious I don’t really care! The light tartness and carbonation made this amazingly refreshing and the perfect beer to start a safari beer tasting. (1,412 characters)

Pours a very clear gold with quick finger of bubbly white head that leaves no lacing. Smell is straight up funky brett and citrus. Some mild Tangerine and orange is present. Don't know about Mandarins though. Taste is beautiful. Definantly some Citrus, but I still get tangerine and orange. Barrel flavors are vanilla and oak with light grape and green apple notes. Quite sour. Mouthfeel is intensely carbonated and quite sour with a lingering dryness akin to a nice Champagne.

Overall an absolutely beautiful beer that reminds me of a Geueze. Should have drank this last October when I got it, but never the less, it's still pretty awesome. (695 characters)

A- Pours a cloudy straw yellow with a 1/4 inch white head that lingers. Excellent retention, low carbonation noted. Has the hazy appearance of a great saison.

S- Orange zest, lemon, an overall citrus quality followed with a solid acidity. Some musty barnyard and a rotten smell...but in the best way possible. Smells delicious.

T- Oh god yes. Tangerine sweetness and acidity mixed with lemon, brett (fresh fruit brett character) some yeasty flavor, and a bit of pepper as well. Some oak character is also present. Extremely complex, more flavors than my palate can comprehend.

M- Low body and medium carbonation play well together to provide a very gentle mouthfeel. Extremely drinkable. Some drying on the end, but it only makes you want to drink it faster.

O- Fantastic, very well made beer that I wish I could have gotten a case of. I haven't had the last batch of regular flora to compare it with, but based on my previous experiences with it, I feel like the mandarins worked to create more of a bright fruit character in the beer. Very well done... one of the best HF sours I have consumed to date, and that is saying a lot. (1,168 characters)

This beer is very good, really drinkable, and balanced, and I certainly don't regret trading for it. That said, I don't know that I would trade for it again. Hill Farmstead beers seem to inevitably generate massive hype, but the cost of entry for me doesn't always seem worth it. At any rate, if you want this beer I'd trade for it sooner rather than later. The mandarin presence isn't huge even now, and it won't get any larger. (955 characters)

Bottle selfishly poured into this Cantillon glass I got at Armsby Abbey on Zwanze day.

We will go backward.

Overall, just short of perfect. Its like a great gueuze clone, even though you know its not a gueuze. Its a perfect costume. There calling it the perfect Storm, if you were at an X-Men costume party.

Mouthfeel, full, it wants to hang out in your cheeks and start a colony there. The feel of this is like OJ with pulp versus OJ without, not OJ with a knife and then not without.

Taste, S great. All your normal sour,blah blah but it has a real strong cereal background and finish. Really good backbone for the citrus sour ribs to cling to.

Smell, it though the bottle nose and you will just devour the bottle. Smell is the strongest sense, so don't bother fighting it.

Appearence. So here is the facade. Its great yes. Its not perfect, but as close as you can get to perfect. Factually, its a hint more orange than a white or saison or gueuze or whatever name it has.

Completely reminds me of my first Lente. Had that on my second sons birth night, Leonidas. Had it right after Cable Car. RIP Cable Car. Tonight is my second daughters birthday, Imagine Peace, its pronounced Im A Jin, uh, peace.

A~ beautifully vibrant light orange with hardly no head and no lacing at all.

S~ bready, peppery saison yeast up front. followed by a little wheat and a lot of citrus barnyard funky goodness!

T~ the sourest mandarin/orange ever! like someone injected a mandarin with wild yeast and let it ferment for 10 years haha. other than that it pretty much follows the nose, not much wheat present though. i guess the overwhelming funk conquers here and theres nothing wrong with that once so ever. wow!

M~ very well carbonated, not what you would have thought from the look of things. that seems to be a reoccurring thing with the most recent HF releases. pineapple like texture, somewhat like Juicy. very refreshing and crazy drinkable of course.

O~ absolutely amazing and mind blowing even with high HF expectations. the only thing that surprises me is the gravity. i wonder how long this fermented? not complaining one bit though, if anything it shows total control! balance for days and all around delicious. this is up there with Juicy and Mimosa! (1,110 characters)